Sign Up for Square Point of Sale
Use this guide to sign up via the Square app or your online Square Dashboard. You can accept card payments once you've provided the required information. If you have multiple businesses under the same Australian Business Number (ABN), you can create a single account with multiple locations.
Get Started
- Create your Square account via a web browser on your phone or desktop computer/laptop.
- Enter and confirm your email address and create a password.
- Follow the prompts to sign up.
- Download Square Point of Sale to your compatible mobile device via the App Store or Google Play Store.
- Open the app when it finishes downloading and tap Get Started.
- Enter and confirm your email address and create a password.
- Follow the prompts to sign up.
The setup guide will walk you through setting up a bank account for transfers, creating items, ordering Square hardware, and more.
To access the in-app setup guide:
- Open the Square app and tap ≡ More.
- Tap Support > Setup Guide.
Note: The setup guide is only available on iOS devices.
For a more comprehensive look at the many features available within Square Point of Sale, view the full Square Point of Sale Guide.
Business Details Required
You're required to provide an active ABN during signup unless signing up as an individual or sole trader without an ABN.
Having your Square account associated with your business ABN helps us identify you as a business and is advantageous when it comes to completing your taxes.
You can supply an ACN if you use one, but only alongside an ABN.
Square accounts can be created under these business types:
Individual or sole traders can sign up for Square with or without an ABN. This business type can also access our document based Identification Verification.
If your business is registered as a company or partnership, you must provide your ABN during sign up. You’ll then be prompted to provide personal details about your business partner(s) or beneficial owner(s). For individuals, this includes full name, date of birth, and address and you must ensure that you have the consent of those individuals to provide Square with their information for this purpose. For entities, an entity name is required along with an ABN, if applicable.
Note: If we are unable to verify any partners of your business during sign up, your application may take up to 20 business days to review.
Learn more about how to sign up with a Partnership Business Entity.
You’ll need to upload a copy of your full Trust Deed. Learn more on how to sign up for Square with a Trust ABN.
Note: If we are unable to verify certain individuals within your Trust, the application may take up to 20 business days to review.
Learn more on how to sign up with an Incorporated Association Entity
Note: If we are unable to verify certain individuals within your Association, the application may take up to 20 business days to review.
Learn more on how to sign up with an Unincorporated Association Entity.
Note: If we are unable to verify certain individuals within your Association, the application may take up to 20 business days to review.
If you’re a business processing over $250,000 in card payments each year, please contact our Sales team for more information about how Square's offerings can work for your business and custom rates for eligible businesses.
Personal Details Required
We are required by banking industry regulations and applicable law to verify the personal details listed below for each of our primary account holders. Even if you plan on using Square as a business, creating a Square account is impossible without providing valid personal information.
Square’s Terms of Service also require our customers to be at least 18 years of age or older to create a Square account.
The following details are required to activate a Square account:
First legal name and last legal surname
Contact telephone number
Date of birth
Full residential street address
Business role
Government-issued ID (passport, driver’s licence or Medicare Card)
Important to note
A PO Box can be used for hardware shipping but not as a home address for activation.
For sellers with a driver's licence issued in ACT, NSW, NT, SA, TAS or WA, you must provide the driver's licence number and card number as stated on your licence.
If applicable, you’ll be prompted to add details about your business partner(s). If you’re unable to provide the information above, you may not be able to accept card payments, but you can still use Square as a digital POS solution to track cash/other tender payments and provide your customers with email and text receipts.
Business Types
Individual or sole traders can sign up for Square with or without an ABN. This business type can also access our document based Identification Verification.
Learn more about required documentation for sign up as an individual or sole trader.
If your business is registered as a partnership, you’ll be prompted to provide personal details about your business partner(s) or beneficial owner(s). For individuals, this includes full name, date of birth, and address and you must ensure that you have the consent of those individuals to provide Square with their information for this purpose. For entities, an entity name is required along with an ABN, if applicable.
Note: Partnership applications may take up to three weeks to review.
Learn more about how to sign up with a Partnership Business Entity.
You’ll need to upload a copy of your full Trust Deed. Learn more on how to sign up for Square with a Trust ABN.
Note: Trust applications may take up to three weeks to review.
Learn more on how to sign up with an Incorporated Association Entity.
Learn more on how to sign up with an Unincorporated Association Entity.
Choose a Merchant Category Code
During the signup process, you’ll need to classify how you’ll use Square by selecting your business type or Merchant Category Code. Square will use this information to provide you with the best features to grow your business.
If you already set your business type and want to change it, contact Square Support. Note: We cannot edit the ABN you entered once you have registered. You will need to create a new Square account with the new ABN.
Link Your Bank Account
An Australia-based transactional bank account is required for your funds to be transferred. Bank verification can take up to 5 business days to verify.
Square Hardware & Account Setup
You can place an order for Square hardware or skip this step and purchase at a later time. If you purchase Square hardware online, it should arrive within 2 to 7 business days. Learn more about ordering hardware via Square Shop with this Square Shop Guide.
Alternatively, you can purchase hardware from one of our retail partners.
Sign Up FAQ
During the signup process, you’ll need to classify how you’ll use Square by selecting your business type or Merchant Category Code. Square will use this information to provide you with the best features to grow your business.
If you already set your business type and want to change it, contact Square Support.
Note: We cannot edit the ABN you entered once you have registered. You will need to create a new Square account with the new ABN.
Square AU has partnered with Veriff— a global identity verification service company—to ensure you have a quick and seamless experience when signing up for Square and verifying your identity. Learn more via Veriff’s privacy policy.
To approve your account for card processing, we must verify your identity. You can read more about our obligations via the AUSTRAC website.
Visit our sign up troubleshooting guide to learn more.
To ensure your funds are transferred in a timely manner, we recommend linking an Australian-based transactional bank account as soon as you can.
You can place an order for Square hardware or skip this step and purchase at a later time. If you purchase Square hardware online, it should arrive within two to seven business days. Learn more about ordering hardware via Square Shop with this Square Shop Guide.
Alternatively, you can purchase hardware from one of our retail partners.
View the full Square Point of Sale Guide for a more comprehensive look at the many features available within Square Point of Sale.